The Almost Christian Discovered, Sermon · Observation
Obſerv.There is that in Religion, which carries its own evidence along with it, even to the Conſciences of ungodly men.
Suadere…ſt ecorantes, perſuade reeſt eſcien tis. Beza Suad…t qui conſuſit perſuadet. qui que vult, induc…t hominem. Eraſ.Thou perſwadeſt me] foreign, the word is from the Hebrew foreign and it ſignifies both ſuadere and perſuadere, either to uſe arguments to prevail, or to prevail by the Arguments uſed.
Now it is to be taken in the latter ſence here, to ſhew the influence of Pauls Arguments upon Agrippa, which had almoſt proſelyted him to the profeſſion of Chriſtianity.
Almoſt thou perſwadeſt me to be a Chriſtian
A Chriſtian] foreign.I hope I need not tell you what a Chriſtian is, though I am perſwaded many that are called Chriſtians do not know what a Chriſtian is, or if they do, yet they don't know what it is to be a Chriſtian.
A Chriſtian, is a Diſciple of Jeſus Chriſt; one that believes in, and follows Chriſt. As he that imbraces the Doctrine of Arminius is called an Arminian, and as he tha… owns the Doctrine and way of Luther, is called a Lutheran, ſo he that imbraces and owns and follows the Doctrine of Jeſus Chriſt, he is called a Chriſtian
The word is taken more largely, and more ſtrictly: more largely, and ſo all that profeſs Chriſt come in the fleſh, are called Chriſtians, in oppoſition to Heathens that do not know Chriſt; and to the poor blind Jews, that will not own Chriſt; and to the Mahomeian, that prefers Mahomet above Chriſt.
But now in Scripture, the word is of a more ſtrict and narrow acceptation; it is uſed onelyonly to denominate the true Diſciples and followers of Chriſt, Acts 11.26. The Diſciples were firſt called Chriſtians at Antioch, 1 Pet. 4.16. If any man ſuffer as a Chriſtian, let him not be aſhamed, that is as a member, and Diſciple of Chriſt, and ſo in the Text, Almoſt thou perſwadeſt me to be a Chriſtian.
The Word is uſed but in theſe three places (as I find) in all the New Teſtament, and in each of them it ſignifies in the ſence forementioned.
Fulk, not. on Rhem. Teſt.The Italians make the name to be a name of reproach among them, and do uſually abuſe the word Chriſtian to ſignifie a fool.
1 Cor. 1.18But if as the Apoſtle ſaith, the Preaching of Chriſt, is to the World fooliſhneſs, then it is no wonder that the Diſciples of Chriſt, are to the World, fools.
1 Tim. 3 16.Yet it is true (in a ſound ſence) that ſo they are. For the whole of godlineſs is a Myſtery.
1 Cor. 4.11.A man muſt die, that would live; he muſt be empty, that would be full; he muſt be loſt, that would be found; he muſt have nothing, that would have all things; he muſt be blind that would have illumination; he muſt be condemned that would have redemption: ſo he muſt be a fool, that would be a Chriſtian. If any man among you ſeems to be wiſe, let him become a fool, that he may be wiſe.
He is the true Chriſtian, that is the worlds fool, but wiſe to Salvation.
Thus you have the ſence and meaning of the words breifly explained.
The Text needs no diviſion, and yet it is pitty, the almoſt ſhould not be divided from the Chriſtian.
Though it is of little avail to divide them as they are linked in the Text, unleſs I could divide them, as they are united in your hearts, this would be a bleſſed diviſion, if the almoſi might be taken from the Chriſtian. That ſo you may be not onelyonly foreign but foreign not onelyonly propemodum, but admodum, not onelyonly almoſt, but altogether Chriſtians.
This is Gods work to effect it, but it is our duty to perſwade to it, and O that God would help me to manage the Subject ſo, that you may ſay in the concluſion, thou perſwadeſt me (not almoſt, but) altogether to be a Chriſtian.
The obſervation that I ſhall propound to handle is this.